Database system and method for organizing and sharing information

ABSTRACT

A database stores records of resources that include web pages and web-accessed files, electronic files, and hardcopy documents. The URL of a web page or web-accessed file, the file access path of an electronic file, and the location of a hardcopy document are stored in the records. The records can be created by a user. The user can store an Internet link record when the user is browsing the web page or reviewing the web-accessed file. The user can store an electronic file record when the user is exploring files. The user can enter descriptions and notes that associate with the records. The resources can be organized into categories and sub-categories. For example, certain web pages and web-accessed files, electronic files, and hardcopy documents that cover the same subject can be grouped into one category. The records, including the descriptions and notes of the records, can be shared by other users that have access to the same database.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C §119(e) to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/927,851, entitled “Database System and Methodfor Organizing and Sharing Information,” filed Aug. 10, 2001, and toU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/224,265, entitled “System andMethod for Organizing Database Research,” filed Aug. 10, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of organizing and sharing Internetweb pages and web-accessed files, and other types of information inhardcopy or electronic formats.

2. Description of the Related Art

Web users typically use the “Bookmark” or “Favorites” feature in webbrowsers to mark certain web pages that they plan to revisit in thefuture. The marked web pages can also be grouped into folders. However,the “Bookmark” or “Favorites” feature does not provide sufficientflexibility. For example, the users cannot create and store detailed andlength comments about the marked web pages. The folders and marked webpages cannot be easily shared among users. In addition, the folders andmarked web pages cannot be conveniently used in the same applicationalong with other documents and files that are not accessed through a webbrowser. The other documents and files include information stored inelectronic or hardcopy format.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is desirable to store the URLs (Uniform Resource Locator) of webpages and web-accessed files, the file access paths of electronic files,and the locations of hardcopy documents in a single database. It is alsodesirable to enable the user to enter and store comments about the webpages and web-accessed files, electronic files, and hardcopy documentsin the database. Moreover, it is desirable to enable the user toorganize the web pages and web-accessed files, electronic files, andhardcopy documents into hierarchical structures of categories, and toenable other users of the same database to have access to the web pagesand web-accessed files, electronic files, hardcopy documents, andcategories.

A database application enables Internet links, electronic files, andhardcopy documents to be organized and shared among users in a coherentapplication. Internet links include web pages and other files accessedthrough a web browser using a URL. Electronic files include electronicdocuments that are connected to the user's computer but are typicallynot accessed through a web browser. Hardcopy documents include, forexample, books, periodicals, printouts, notebooks, and detached datarecording media not connected to computers. For each Internet link, thedatabase stores the URL, the user-entered comments, and the associatedcategories. For each electronic file, the database stores the fileaccess path, the user-entered comments, and the associated categories.For each hardcopy document, the database stores the location, theuser-entered comments, and the associated categories. Categories canform hierarchical structures, with one category being the sub-categoryof another category. The database, or a portion of the database, canreside on a user's local computer, on a computer connected to the user'scomputer on a local or wide area network, or on a remote computeraccessible using a web browser. The stored categories, Internet links,electronic files, and hardcopy documents can be made available to otherusers that are granted access to the database.

The database application can launch other applications that enable theuser to browse the web and to review electronic files. For example, thedatabase application can launch a web browser session to enable the userto browse the web. When the web-browsing user wants to store a web page,the application enables the user to store the web page as an Internetlink record in the database. When the user wants to revisit the webpage, the user can issue a command on the stored Internet link record.The database application then launches a web browser session to navigateto the URL of the Internet link record. As another example, the databaseapplication can launch a Windows Explorer session to enable the user toexplore files on the user's computer or on the user's computer network.When the file-exploring user wants to store a file, the applicationenables the user to store the file as an electronic file record in thedatabase. When the user later wants to open the file, the user can issuea command on the stored electronic file record. Depending on the type ofthe electronic file, the database application then launches anappropriate application to open the electronic file. Alternatively, thedatabase application launches a Windows Explorer session to navigate tothe electronic file.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a system for organizing and sharingresources using a database.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a category table.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of an item table.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of an Internet link table.

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of an electronic file table.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a hardcopy document table.

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a user storing a web page.

FIG. 8 is a sample screen of one embodiment of a user interface.

FIG. 9 is a sample screen of one embodiment of a user interfacepermitting a web-browsing user to store Internet links into a databaseapplication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a system for organizing and sharingresources using a database. A user computer 102 uses a web browser suchas Microsoft Internet® Explorer or Netscape® Communicator to accessInternet links 110 through communication medium 108. The user computer102 can be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a network appliance, apersonal digital assistant, a wireless phone, or any other electronicdevice that can access a web site. The communication medium 108 is awired or wireless network that connects the user computer 102 to theInternet links 110. The network can be the Internet or an Intranet. TheInternet links 110 include web pages on the Internet or on an Intranet.In one embodiment, the Internet links 110 also include any files thatmay be accessed using a URL, such as PDF files and MP3 files that areaccessible using a URL.

Electronic files 106 include electronic documents that can be accessedby the user computer 102 without using a web browser. The electronicfiles 106 are located on the user computer 102 or are connected to theuser's network environment. However, as those skilled in the art willappreciate, in many cases, local and networked drives that storeelectronic documents can be presented to the user as web pages, andelectronic documents can be presented to the user as web site documents.Hardcopy documents 112 include documents that are not stored on a website and are not connected to the user computer 102. Hardcopy documents112 include paper copies of documents, data storage media such as floppydisks and optical disks that are not connected to the user computer 102and not connected to a web site, and any other information in hardcopyformat.

As will be described below, a database 104 stores records of electronicfiles 106, Internet links 110, and hardcopy documents 112. Using thedatabase 104, the user can organize resources, including electronicfiles, Internet links, and hardcopy documents. In one embodiment, thedatabase 104 resides only locally on the user computer 102, and is notaccessible to other users. In another embodiment, the database 104resides on a computer connected to an Intranet, and can be accessed byother users on the same Intranet. In yet another embodiment, thedatabase 104 resides on a remote computer accessible through theInternet, and can be accessed using web browsers by users that aregranted access to the database.

The user computer 102 can access records of the electronic files 106,the Internet links 110, and the hardcopy documents 112, through thedatabase 104. The user computer 102 can access the communication medium108 and navigate to the Internet links 110, without first going throughthe database 104. The database 104 may be located on the user computer102, or on another computer connected to the user computer 102 through alocal or wide area network. The database 104 may be located on acomputer at a web site. For example, the user computer 102 may accessthe database 104 through the communication medium 108. The user mayaccess electronic files 106 through an application such as WindowsExplorer, without first going through the database 104. The user maylocate and review hardcopy documents 112, without first going throughthe database 104. The user may then access the database 104 to store therecords of the electronic files 106, Internet links 110, or hardcopydocuments 112 into the database 104.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a category table 200. As shown inFIG. 2, the category table 200 includes a category name field 202, and asub-category field 204. The category name field 202 stores the name ofthe category. The sub-category field 204 indicates whether the categoryis a sub-category of another category. For example, since the category“Federal Links” has a sub-category field of “StoreLaw.com Links”, thecategory of “Federal Links” is a sub-category of “StoreLaw.com Links.”As those skilled in the art will appreciate, other methods can also beused to define the hierarchical relationship between two entities. Forexample, links can be used to define the relationships among entities.Other fields, such as a unique numeric identifier, can be included inthe category table to define records. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2,the category name field 202 uniquely identifies category records.Additional fields, such as a description field or a notes field to storedescription and notes about the category, can also be included in thecategory table 200.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of an item table 300. The item table300 includes an item name field 302, a category field 304, an itemdescription field 306, a shared record field 308, an item notes field310, and an owner field 312. The item name field 302 stores the name ofthe item. It also uniquely identifies the item record. In anotherembodiment, an additional identifier field uniquely identifies the itemrecord. The category field 304 stores the name of the category of theitem. The value in the category field 304 corresponds to a value in thecategory name field 202 of category table 200. Each category may includeone or more items.

In another embodiment, an item can be associated with multiplecategories. For example, within an item record, the category field 304can store multiple category names, with each category name correspondingto a category associated with the item. As another example, multiplerecords can be created for the same item, with each record associatedwith a category.

The item description field 306 stores a description of the item. Theuser can use this field to store comments about the item. The sharedrecord field 308 stores a logical value that indicates whether this itemis a shared record. If the item is a shared record, then the fieldvalues of the item can be shared by other users. The field values of itsassociated Internet links, electronic files, and hardcopy documents canalso be shared by other users. In another embodiment, some fields of theitem can each be individually designated as shared or not shared. Forexample, the item description field 306 and the item notes field 310 caneach be individually designated as shared or not shared. Therefore, auser who created the item record can designate one field to be notshared, and another field to be shared. The fields of the Internetlinks, electronic files, and hardcopy documents may also be individuallydesignated as shared or not shared. As those skilled in the art willappreciate, in some instances, a computer system administrator ordatabase administrator advantageously has access to all records in adatabase, regardless of their designation as shared or not shared.

The item notes field 310 stores notes about the item. The user can usethis field to store comments about the item. The owner field 312 storesthe identifier of the owner of the item. In a preferred embodiment, theowner is the user who created the item. An owner can set the sharedrecord field 308 to “no” or false, so that other users cannot share theitem record. In one embodiment, the item table also includes a usergroup field, which stores the values of user groups that are enabled toshare the item.

An item may be associated with one or more Internet links, electronicfiles, and hardcopy documents. FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of anInternet link table 400. The Internet link table 400 includes a web pagedescription field 402, a web page address field 404, an item field 406,and a notes field 408. The web page description field 402 stores adescription of the web page. The web page address field 404 stores theURL to the web page. The item field 406 identifies the item associatedwith the Internet link. The item field 406 corresponds to the item namefield 302 of the item table 300. The notes field 408 stores notes aboutthe Internet link. The web page description field 402 typically stores abrief summary of the web page. The notes field 408 typically storeslengthier and more detailed comments about the Internet link. In oneembodiment, the web page description field 402 uniquely identifies anInternet link record. In another embodiment, the web page address field404 uniquely identifies an Internet link record. In yet anotherembodiment, an additional identifier uniquely identifies an Internetlink record.

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of an electronic file table 500. Theelectronic file table 500 includes an electronic file description field502, an electronic file location field 504, an item field 506, and anelectronic file notes field 508. The electronic file description field502 stores a description of the electronic file. The electronic filelocation field 504 stores the location of the electronic field. Thelocation of an electronic file is a text string that identifies thefile. It is typically the file access path of the file. The item field506 identifies the item associated with the electronic file. The itemfield 506 corresponds to the item name field 302 of the item table 300.The electronic file notes field 508 stores notes about the electronicfile. The electronic file description field 502 typically stores a briefsummary of the electronic file. The electronic file notes field 508typically stores lengthier and more detailed comments about theelectronic file. In one embodiment, the electronic file descriptionfield 502 uniquely identifies an electronic file. In another embodiment,the electronic file location field 504 uniquely identifies an electronicfile. In yet another embodiment, an additional identifier uniquelyidentifies an electronic file.

As those skilled in the art will recognize, an electronic file locatedon a user's computer or within the user's network environment can beaccessed by an application that is similar to a web browser, such as aWindows Explorer. Although the file access paths of electronic files arenot true URLs, the electronic files can be displayed using a web browserlike application. In one embodiment, a user can store an electronicfile, including its file access path and user-entered comments, as anInternet link record. The file access path can be stored as a pseudoURL. The user can also store an Internet link as an electronic filerecord. The URL can be stored as a pseudo file access path. Thisembodiment provides flexibility and user-friendliness to certain users.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a hardcopy document table 600. Ahardcopy document can be a book, a magazine, a printout, a notebook, anarticle in a book or a magazine, and any information in hardcopy format.A detached data-recording medium, such as a floppy disk or optical disknot connected to a computer, can also be defined as a hardcopy document.The hardcopy document table 600 includes a hardcopy description field602, a hardcopy location field 604, an item field 606, and a hardcopynotes field 608. The hardcopy description field 602 stores a descriptionof the hardcopy document. In one embodiment, the hardcopy descriptionfield 602 uniquely identifies a hardcopy document. In anotherembodiment, an additional identifier uniquely identifies a hardcopydocument. The hardcopy location field 604 stores the physical locationof the hardcopy document, such as its location in a room or in a drawer.The hardcopy location field 604 can also store another identification ofthe hardcopy document, such as its book title, page number, and soforth. The item field 606 identifies the item associated with thehardcopy document. The item field 606 corresponds to the item name field302 of the item table 300. The hardcopy notes field 608 stores notesabout the hardcopy document. The hard copy description field 602typically stores a brief summary of the hard copy document. The hardcopynotes field 608 typically stores lengthier and more detailed commentsabout the hardcopy document.

In the embodiments described above in connection with FIGS. 3-6, theInternet link table 400, the electronic file table 500, and the hardcopydocument table 600 each includes an item field to refer to theassociated item record. In another embodiment, the item table 300includes additional fields to store identifiers to Internet linkrecords, electronic file records, and hardcopy document recordsassociated with the item. In another embodiment, the Internet links,electronic files, and hardcopy documents are associated directly withone or more categories.

In one embodiment, an Internet link, an electronic file, or a hardcopydocument can be associated with multiple items. Such an embodiment canbe implemented in a number of ways. For example, the item fields 406,506, and 606 in the tables 400, 500, and 600 can each store multipleitem names. The multiple item names can be separated by a delimiter suchas a comma or a semicolon. The multiple items names can also be storedin an item field 406, 506, or 606 as a list of entries. As anotherexample, multiple Internet link records, multiple electronic filerecords, or multiple hardcopy document records can be created, with eachrecord associated with an item.

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a user storing a web page orweb-accessed file. A flowchart 700 is shown in FIG. 7. From a databaseapplication, the user launches a web browser session to navigate to aweb site. In one version, the database application is written inMicrosoft Access. In another version, the database application iswritten in FoxPro. In yet another version, the database application iswritten in SQL. The application can also be written in other platforms,languages and operating systems. In one embodiment described below inconnection with FIG. 8, the user selects a “Go To Web” button 816 inFIG. 8 to access a web site from the database application. The databaseapplication then launches a web browser session to enable the user tosurf the web. In one embodiment, a screen 900 of FIG. 9 is displayed tothe user.

When the user is ready to store a web page or a web-accessed file as anInternet link record, the user issues a command to the databaseapplication. In one embodiment described below in connection with FIG.9, the user selects a “Store Web Page” button 908 to start the storingweb page process.

As shown by the flowchart 700 in FIG. 7, from a start block 702, theprocess proceeds to a block 704, where the user is prompted to updatethe URL of the current web page or the current web-accessed file. If theuser changes the URL, an Internet link other than the current page orfile will be stored. In one embodiment, the user cannot update the URLof the current web page or current web-accessed file. The URL is storedin the web page address field 404 (FIG. 4).

The process proceeds to a block 706, where the user is prompted to entera web page description for the web page description field 402. In oneembodiment in which the web page description field 402 is used as aunique identifier of Internet link records, the user must enter a uniqueweb page description.

The process proceeds to a block 708, where the user is prompted to enternotes for the web page notes field 408. An Internet link record iscreated, with user-entered values in the web page description field 402,web page address field 404, and web page notes field 408.

The process proceeds to a block 710, where a determination is made as towhether the user wants to attach the Internet link record to an existingitem, i.e., to associate the Internet link record with an existing item.If the determination is yes, then the process proceeds to a block 712,otherwise the process proceeds to a block 716. At the block 712, theuser is prompted to select an item from existing item records. In oneembodiment, the user is prompted to select from existing item recordsthat are owned by the user, or owned by others but can be shared. Anitem record with a “shared record” field 308 of “yes” or true can beshared with others.

From the block 712, the process proceeds to a block 714, where theselected item is associated with the Internet link. The item field 406of the Internet link record stores the item name of the selected item.From the block 714, the process proceeds to an end block 730.

If the user wants to create a new item to be associated with theInternet link, the user creates a new item at the block 716. The userenters values for the fields in item table 300. The process proceeds toa block 718, where a determination is made as to whether to associatethe item with an existing category or with a new category. If the userwants to associate the item with an existing category, the processproceeds to a block 720, where the user is prompted to select anexisting category. Otherwise the process proceeds to a block 724, wherethe user creates a new category.

At the block 720, the user selects a category from existing categories.In one embodiment, the user is prompted to select from category recordsthat are owned by the user, or owned by others but can be shared.

From the block 720, the process proceeds to a block 722, where theselected category is associated with the new item. The process proceedsfrom the block 722 to a block 728, where the Internet link is associatedwith the new item. The item field 406 of the Internet link record storesthe item name of the new item. In another embodiment, the user canrepeat the part of the process starting at the block 710, to associatethe Internet link with multiple items. The process proceeds from theblock 728 to the end block 730.

At the block 724, the user creates a new category. The user may identifythe new category as a sub-category of an existing category. The processproceeds to a block 726, where the user associates the new item with thenewly created category. From the block 726, the process proceeds to theblock 728. In another embodiment, the user can repeat the part of theprocess starting at the block 718, to associate the newly created itemwith multiple categories.

An Internet link is typically a web page with a URL. It can also be afile accessible through a browser from a web page, such as a PDF file, aMP3 file, a JPG file, and so forth. In another embodiment, a documentaccessible from a web page can also be stored as an electronic file,with the electronic file location field 504 storing the URL to thedocument.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, an Internet link is associated with an item.An electronic file and a hardcopy document can also be associated withan item. In another embodiment, an Internet link, an electronic file,and a hardcopy document can be associated directly with a category. Asthose skilled in the art will recognize, in a hierarchical structure ofcategories and items, an item can be thought of as a category orsub-category at the bottom level.

FIG. 8 is a sample screen of one embodiment of a user interface. It is asample summary page of a database application. Referring to the middleand bottom portions of the screen 800, the screen 800 displays a list ofcategory names in an area 818. Category notes for the highlightedcategory (“Federal Links”) are displayed in an area 824. The names anddescriptions for the items associated with the highlighted category aredisplayed in an area 820. When the user clicks on a “Item Notes” tab826, the item notes of the item highlighted in the area 820 aredisplayed in area 834. When the user clicks on a “Internet Links” tab828, a “Electronic Files” tab 830, or a “Hardcopy Documents” tab 832,the Internet links, the electronic files, or the hardcopy documentsrespectively associated with the highlighted item are displayed in anarea 834. In FIG. 8, the area 834 displays the web page descriptions andURLs of the Internet links associated with the highlighted “ExecutiveBranch” item. The web page notes and other information of the Internetlinks can also be displayed. The user can highlight an Internet link, anelectronic file, or a hardcopy document that is displayed in the area834.

Referring to the top portion of the screen 800, when the user clicks onthe “New” button 802, the user is prompted to create a new category, anew item, a new Internet link, a new electronic file, or a new hardcopydocument. When the user clicks on the “Edit” button 804, the user isprompted to edit a category, item, Internet link, electronic file, orhardcopy document that is highlighted. Embodiments of tables have beendescribed above in connection with FIGS. 2-6, and the tables can becreated and edited accordingly.

When the user clicks the “Copy” button 806, the user is prompted toselect a “Copy to” category. When an Internet link, an electronic file,or a hardcopy document is highlighted in the area 834, the highlightedInternet link, electronic file, or hardcopy document is copied to bealso associated with the selected “Copy to” category. When an item ishighlighted in the area 820, the highlighted item is copied to be alsoassociated with the selected “Copy to” category. In another embodiment,a “Move” button is provided to de-associate the highlighted Internetlink, electronic file, hardcopy document, or item with its currentlyassociated category, and to be associated with a selected “Move to”category.

When the user clicks the “Delete” button 808, the highlighted Internetlink, electronic file, hardcopy document, item, or category is deleted.In one embodiment, when an item record is deleted, its associatedrecords of Internet links, electronic files, and hardcopy documents arealso deleted. In one embodiment, when a category is deleted, itsassociated sub-categories and items are also deleted.

When the user clicks the “Search” button 810, the user is prompted toenter a keyword. The database application searches its records lookingfor complete or partial matches with the keyword. Other search methods,such as Boolean searching or natural language searching, can also beimplemented. In one embodiment, the applications searches for values inthe category name field 202, the item name field 302, the itemdescription field 306, the web page description field 402, theelectronic file description field 502, and the hardcopy descriptionfield 602, looking for complete or partial matches with the keyword.Other fields may also be searched in looking for matches. The searchresults are displayed to the user.

When the user clicks the “Open Other User” button 812, the user isprompted to select another user from a list of users. The records of theother user are then displayed. In one embodiment, the user must have asystem administrator's privilege to open other users' records. In oneembodiment, the user can only open other users that belong to the sameuser group as him or her. In one embodiment, the user can open otherusers, but cannot view records owned by other users that are designatedas not shared. In one embodiment, the category table includes anadditional owner field, so that each category has a particular owner.The owner of a category is typically the user that created the category.

When the user clicks the “Print Report” button 814, the user isdisplayed a preview of a report that lists all categories, theirassociated items, and the Internet links, electronic files, and hardcopydocuments associated with the items. The report can be printed by aprinter. In one embodiment, the user can select only some of thecategories or items for printing. In one embodiment, the user can onlyprint a report of the records that belong to the user. As those skilledin the art will appreciate, once information is stored in the database,the records owned by the user, and other records that can be shared bythe user, can be manipulated by the user in a number of ways. In oneembodiment, for each of the Internet link records to be printed, the usecan select an option to print out the web page corresponding to theInternet link record. For example, the application automaticallylaunches a web browser to navigate to the URL identified by the webaddress field 404 of the Internet link record, and prints the web pageas part of the report. The report also includes the notes field 408 ofthe Internet link record. Therefore, a user can read a paper copy of theweb page in conjunction with the notes. The application can also printout a file identified by the file location field 504 of the electronicfile record, along with the notes field 508 of the same record.

When the user clicks the “Go To Web” button 816, the databaseapplication launches a browser session that can access web sites. If anInternet link record is displayed and highlighted in the area 834, theweb browser will navigate to the URL of the highlighted Internet link.One embodiment of a subsequent screen is shown in FIG. 9.

In one embodiment, when the user double-clicks on an Internet linkdisplayed in the area 834, the application launches a web browsersession to navigate to the Internet link. When the user double-clicks onan electronic file displayed in the area 834, the user computer opensthe electronic file. Depending on the type of the electronic file, theuser computer uses an appropriate application to open the file. Forexample, a file with extension “.doc” can be opened by a Microsoft Wordapplication. Alternatively, the database application launches a WindowsExplorer session to navigate to the electronic file. In anotherembodiment, when the user double-clicks on a record displayed in thearea 834, the user is prompted to edit the record. For example, when theuser double-clicks on an Internet link record displayed in the area 834,the user can edit the description field 402, the web page address field404, the item field 406, and the notes field 408 of the record. In yetanother embodiment, when the user right-clicks on a record in the area834, the user is prompted to select from a list of choices, such as“Edit Record”, “Delete Record”, “Go To Web Page”, “Open File”, and soforth.

FIG. 9 is a sample screen of one embodiment of a user interfacepermitting a web-browsing user to store Internet links into a databaseapplication. The screen 900 includes an area 902 and an area 904. Afterthe user clicks the “Go To Web” button 816 in FIG. 8, the user canbrowse the web using the area 904 of screen 900 in FIG. 9. The area 904can be a browser window such as a Microsoft® Internet Explorer orNetscape® Communicator window. In a preferred embodiment, it is resizedautomatically by the database application, so that the area 902 and thearea 904 are displayed as top and bottom portions on the same screen900. The area 902 includes a “Return to Summary” button 906 and a “StoreWeb Page” button 908. In one embodiment, when an Internet link record inthe database corresponds to the current web page in the area 904, thearea 902 also displays at least a portion of the Internet link record,for example, the values of web page description field 402 and web pagenotes field 408. Therefore a user can review the web page in the area904, and also review in the area 902 the comments previously entered bythe user or another user. In one implementation, the user can alsomodify in the area 902 the values of web page description field 402 orweb page notes field 408.

As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the area 902 and the area904 can be displayed in many ways. For example, the area 902 can appearin a left side of the screen, and the area 904 can appear in a rightside of the screen. As another example, the area 902 and the area 904can overlap each other, with one area in the foreground and another areain the background.

When the user clicks the “Return to Summary” button 906, the databaseapplication returns to the screen 800 of FIG. 8. When the user clicksthe “Store Web Page” button 908, the user is prompted to store the webpage that is displayed in the area 904. One embodiment of the storingweb page process is displayed in FIG. 7. In another embodiment, the“Store Web Page” button is located on the tool bar of the web browser.When the button is clicked, the user is prompted to store the web pagethat is displayed in the area 904.

In one embodiment, the database application also includes an “Explore MyComputer” button (not shown). The button can be displayed, for example,in the area 902 of FIG. 9 or in the top portion of FIG. 8. When the userclicks the button, the computer files on the user's computer or on theuser computer's network are displayed in the area 904. The user canexplore the files, for example by navigating through the drives anddirectories, and opening and closing files. In one embodiment, thedatabase application launches a Windows Explorer session to displayfiles. The database application preferably resizes the Windows Explorerwindow, so that the area 902 and the area 904 are displayed as top andbottom portions on the same screen 900. The database application canalso launch another application to display the files on the user'scomputer or on the user computer's network. The user can select a fileto store as an electronic file. The process of storing an electronicfile is similar to the process of storing an Internet link-the userenters description and notes to be stored with the electronic filerecord. The user also associates the electronic file with one or moreitems. One or more Internet links, electronic files, and hardcopydocuments can be associated with the same item.

The database application can be used in many fields. One of the uses isin the field of legal research. A large quantity of legally relateddocuments, including case opinions, statutes, treatises and law journalarticles can be accessed through a web browser. The database applicationenables a legal researcher to mark these documents as Internet links,and enter comments in the description and notes fields to preserve hisor her thoughts regarding these documents. The Internet links can beorganized by categories and sub-categories. For example, cases reviewedduring a particular legal research task can be grouped together. Thelegal researcher may have consulted other documents such as electronicfiles and hardcopy documents during the research. These documents canalso be organized along with the web pages. In one embodiment, anInternet link, electronic file, or hardcopy document can be associatedwith multiple items or multiple categories. For example, if the legalresearcher has found an article that is related to two categories, thelegal researcher can associate the article with both categories.

The database application enables users to share records created byothers. For example, if an item “2000 U.S. Supreme Court Decisions” hasbeen created and includes Internet links to all U.S. Supreme Courtdecisions of the 2000 term, then other users can share the list,including the URL of each of the cases, and notes about each of thecases. From the database application, a user can launch a web browsersession to navigate to the URL of each of the cases.

The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the invention.It will be appreciated, however, that the invention can be practiced inmany ways. For example, although the foregoing describes records storedin a category table, an item table, an Internet links table, anelectronic files table and a hardcopy documents table, theabove-described tables can be combined into fewer tables or separatedinto more tables. Some data fields can be moved to other tables orduplicated in other tables. Although the database and the tables arepreferably in relational form, they can also be implemented asobject-oriented database and tables, or as a combination ofobject-oriented and relational database and tables. It should also benoted that the use of particular terminology when describing certainfeatures or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply thatthe terminology is being re-defined herein to be restricted to includingany specific characteristics of the features or aspects of the inventionwith which that terminology is associated. The scope of the inventionshould therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims andany equivalents thereof.

1. A method of organizing and sharing Internet links, electronic filesand hardcopy documents, the method comprising: enabling a user to entercomments about an Internet link; storing the entered comments about theInternet link and a URL of the Internet link in an Internet link recordin a database; associating the Internet link record with a category oran item; enabling the user to enter comments about an electronic file;storing the entered comments about the electronic file and a file accesspath of the electronic file in an electronic file record in thedatabase; associating the electronic file record with a category or anitem; enabling the user to enter comments about a hardcopy document;storing the entered comments about the hardcopy document and a locationof the hardcopy document in a hardcopy document record in the database;associating the hardcopy document record with a category or an item; andmaking the Internet link record, the electronic file record, and thehardcopy document record accessible to other users that use thedatabase, wherein the Internet link record, the electronic file record,and the hardcopy document record can be associated with a same categoryor a same item.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling a user toenter comments about an Internet link comprises enabling the user toenter a summary in a description filed of the Internet link record, andenabling the user to enter other comments in a notes field of theInternet link record.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling a userto enter comments about an electronic file comprises enabling the userto enter a summary in a description filed of the electronic file record,and enabling the user to enter other comments in a notes field of theelectronic file record.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling auser to enter comments about a hardcopy document comprises enabling theuser to enter a summary in a description filed of the hardcopy documentrecord, and enabling the user to enter other comments in a notes fieldof the hardcopy document record.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein anitem is associated with a category.
 6. The method of claim 5, furthercomprising: enabling the user to designate categories in the database asshared or not shared; making Internet link records, electronic filerecords, and hardcopy document records associated with the sharedcategories accessible to other users that use the database; and makingInternet link records, electronic file records, and hardcopy documentrecords associated with the items that are associated with the sharedcategories accessible to other users that use the database.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein a category can be associated with anothercategory.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein an item can be associatedwith one or more categories.
 9. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising enabling the user to associate the Internet link record withanother category or another item.
 10. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising enabling the user to associate the electronic file recordwith another category or another item.
 11. The method of claim 1,further comprising enabling the user to associate the hardcopy documentrecord with another category or another item.
 12. The method of claim 1,wherein one or more Internet link records, one or more electronic filerecords, and one or more hardcopy document records can be associatedwith a same category or a same item.
 13. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: enabling the user to designate Internet link records in thedatabase as shared or not shared; enabling the user to designateelectronic file records in the database as shared or not shared;enabling the user to designate hardcopy document records in the databaseas shared or not shared; and making the shared Internet link records,the shared electronic file records, and the shared hardcopy documentrecords available to other users that use the database.
 14. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: enabling the user to designate fields ofInternet link records in the database as shared or not shared; enablingthe user to designate fields of electronic file records in the databaseas shared or not shared; enabling the user to designate fields ofhardcopy document records in the database as shared or not shared; andmaking the shared Internet link record fields, the shared electronicfile record fields, and the shared hardcopy document record fieldsavailable to other users that use the database.
 15. The method of claim1, further comprising: enabling the user to designate items in thedatabase as shared or not shared; and making Internet link records,electronic file records, and hardcopy document records associated withthe shared items accessible to other users that use the database. 16.The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a report of atleast a portion of the Internet link records, electronic file records,and hardcopy document records stored in the database.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, further comprising printing at least a portion of a web pageidentified by the stored URL of a Internet link record, and printing thestored entered comments of the Internet link record.
 18. The method ofclaim 16, further comprising printing at least a portion of a fileidentified by the stored file access path of a electronic file record,and printing the stored entered comments of the electronic file record.19. A database that facilitates the organizing and sharing of Internetlinks, electronic files and hardcopy documents, the database comprising:category records, wherein a category can be a sub-category of anothercategory; Internet link records storing at least the URL, associatedcategories and user-entered comments of each of a plurality of Internetlinks; electronic file records storing at least the file access path,associated categories and user entered comments of each of a pluralityof electronic files; and hardcopy document records storing at least thelocation, associated categories and user entered comments of each of aplurality of hardcopy documents, wherein an Internet link record, anelectronic file record, and a hardcopy document record can be associatedwith a same category.
 20. The database of claim 19, wherein each of thecategory records further stores a shared or not shared designation ofthe category, wherein Internet link records, electronic file records,and hardcopy document records associated with a not shared category areaccessible to the user that created the category, and wherein Internetlink records, electronic file records, and hardcopy document recordsassociated with a shared category are accessible to the user thatcreated the category and accessible to other users that use thedatabase.